Eric and I ended up talking in spite of planning on not being too late. His very deep sense of the debt he feels to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in sending missionaries all those years ago to bring a life enhancing Gospel, is a powerful motivating force in his life. His awareness of the need for the church to connect with peoples lives and be conscious of the culture they come from is plain to see. The sense of Wesleyan Methodism is both a blessing and a curse. Elements of worship and ways of doing things means there is a rich tradition that taps into the heart of John Wesley's mission. But it can become a restricting force that holds back change. You sense this tension in the mixture of worship singing hymns and standing for the Gospel, after all John Wesley was an Anglican. Can't see many British Methodists standing for the Gospel . But then people come alive with their dancing and singing as they express their faith in a more indigenous way. The revival movement across Ghana's Methodist church taps into the needs of the people with its focus on praying and singing. To the visiting eye it can seem like chaos and anything but methodical ( un Methodist) . Yet of course when John Wesley preached outdoors there too was an out pouring of Gods presence that touched peoples lives and moved them.
What of course we British Methodists are uncomfortable with is any sense of emotionalism being whipped up. Yet of course we are invited to worship God and that draws upon our emotions. Why should we not be moved to laugh with joy, or cry with tears? We might not chose to dance but we can be more honest in expressing our feelings.
St Paul spoke about people being drunk in the Spirit as he sought to express this. Alcohol for many releases inhibitions which are often unhelpful as some get violent, feel ill etc. What folk look for is the high. St Paul points out when Gods presence in our lives is at work, the Holy Spirit, we are liberated to work for God, to worship God, to experience a kind of high that is not destructive but gives a sense of purpose , enthusiasm or Zeal for the mission of Jesus. That makes people very happy and they want to sing about it. Is that not in our roots be they Wesleyan, Primitive or New connexional Methodists.
So we too in the UK need to find a way afresh to tap into the culture or cultures of our current society. So people can experience a God that enables them to feel not just good, but certain there is a God who loves them, values them, believes in them. A return to making time to pray together, creating worship that enables people to encounter God, giving opportunity for healing and wholeness.
As we talked we were both reminded of the need to understand our history. What has made us, and to revisit the core teachings that John Wesley conveyed. We often pay lip service to them. Local preachers are invited to read up on a Wesley sermon in readiness for their final interview before being accepted as preachers. Perhaps they should be expected to read them all! And apply them for today. How many times have I heard the one on the 'Catholic Spirit' ? Yet to what extent does learning to work with other christian traditions, let alone within our church, really find expression? 'If your heart is as my heart and you love God as I love God then give me your hand' ( John Wesley). Is it not a driver to greater ecumenical working?
As we talked we recognised that many Methodist Ghanaians have come to the UK, but the church they find does not enable them to express themselves in the way they need to. So they leave and go to those that do. This is our loss and we need to give space in our buildings and allow a different pattern of worship to happen. This will enrich us even if its difficult to work. If we don't they will be lost to our church.We do not have a good track record of holding people in recent decades. From those who left in their droves to the house churches that grew up, to the young people who have left in large numbers since 1995. When I started in ministry most of my churches had work with children and young people on a Sunday and many youth work mid week. Now It is the exception.
Our failure to accommodate and allow for expressing faith in vibrant ways has wounded the body of our church. I am sure I too have made mistakes in creating good order and perhaps have prevented a greater sense of vibrancy. If we are to regain a sense of wholeness we need to understand that all parts have their place in the body. Cafe worship, messy church etc are just symptoms of the need to allow people another way to express who they are before God.
I believe as many do that church growth requires continuity of worship and small group work. People tell me, and I have heard it so often now, I believe them. That they would not invite someone to worship because they can't be sure of its quality. Their minister seeks to put energy into creating a high standard of worship expressed in different ways. But then the week after the preacher delivers a bog standard service, and it can be be a hymn sandwich or praise sandwich the result is the same. A lack of confidence in our own people that a person might meet with God because of the lack of continuity. I well remember a colleague of mine who worked so hard, yet expressed his frustration of finding that all his hard work in worship leading and preaching was undermined by the preachers who followed the next week and the week after. Often contradicting his preaching as they sought to give a diet to keep some people happy.
So quite a heavy late night conversation giving each other much to think about.
No comments:
Post a Comment